Miss Virginia 2011

There will never be a quote, a poem, a story or a book that could describe the amazing and incredible experience that I had at the Miss VA Pageant June 19-25. I am forever changed by some of the amazing people that I met. I am humbled to have made the Top 10 on my first trip to Roanoke. I am blessed to have had the opportunity. I am so grateful for the Miss Virginia Organization, its volunteers and all those who support the program. I am still trying to process the entire week as I learned so much and I grew immensely as a person. Below you will find a few pictures from my week in Roanoke. Thank you so much to everyone who supported me and loved me during this journey. You are my hero's!

I am a better person for having been involved in the Miss Virginia 2011 Pageant. I cannot wait to continue to serve my community and the State of Virginia as Miss Chesterfield 2011.

Service Above Self

My motto has always been, “I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” By Edward Everett Hale.

In order to educate students on heart health, I have developed and taught my school program “The Three E’s” to over 8,000 students in elementary, middle and high schools. The education revolves around living a heart healthy lifestyle though proper eating, exercise and controlling emotions. Understanding the affects of all three components can help an individual live a more holistically balanced lifestyle. At one school appearance I had a young girl approach me at the end of my presentation and said, “Thanks for being my hero, I have a heart condition too and now when I go to the doctors I won’t be scared because I will think of you and know that if you made it though, so can I.”

            As my eyes filled up with tears, I embraced her with a huge hug before she ran off to class. I may not be able to accumulate every life, rally every student or modify everyone’s habits, but seeing how my platform unswervingly affected one individual and optimistically impacted her makes all the work worthwhile.

            Over the past few months I have been involved in various service projects other than just my platform topic. From Race For The Cure, a can food drive, speaking in schools, helping out various civic organizations and even picking rocks out of a field for a farm; each volunteer opportunity has truly made me a better person.

            The community service work that I have done has forever changed my life. It’s funny how in community service the individual being served often says repetitively “Thank you” after receiving help, services or support. However, I believe that that word “Thank you” becomes a two way street though community service. Both giver and receiver are impacted and changed. We only have one life, and I firmly believe that we are not called to see through each other, but to see each other through.

Miss Virginia Workshop

So I left school in all the crazy madness to come back to Virginia for a week and attend the Miss Virginia Workshop. This is the time when all of the local titleholders get together with the rest of the Miss VA Organization to mesh out all the details of the June Miss VA pageant. We also hand in tones of paperwork and meet all of the other contestants for that year.

I had a wonderful time coming back home. It was such a blessing to be able to see all of my friends and family even if it was only for a short time! I look forward to seeing everyone in Roanoke this summer for the pageant!!

Also- special congrats to the NEW Miss Commonwealth Taylor Witte and Miss Dominion Madeleine Raiford!! You girls were stunning!